For Members to scrutinise the summary of work managed by the Central Bedfordshire  Youth Support Service (YSS) including:

·         The responsibilities the YSS has to Young People

·         The range of services the YSS delivers and manages across Central        Bedfordshire

·         The current performance of the YSS

·         The future priorities of the YSS

The Head of Partnerships, Community Engagement and Youth Support introduced a report on Securing Economic, Personal and Social success with Young People – The Youth Support Service Annual Report.  The report outlined the wide range of services delivered and managed to support youth in the Directorate.  The report had also been circulated to partner organisations.  The service fulfilled the council’s duty to track the youth who are NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training.  It had helped and had built good relationships with schools, colleges and youth offending teams.  The service had been successful in the numbers of youth supported and engaged in further education, training, work experience and other activities.

In light of the report and clarification sought, Members raised the following queries:-

·         What help was available to youth that had completed college but were unable to find work.  The Head of Partnerships advised that Business and Regeneration Directorate took the lead in providing support to people over the age of 18 and there are strong links with the Youth Support Service to deliver this.

·         Whether those children that entered a form of training, work experience or volunteering received a certificate to help them obtain work.  The Head of Partnerships advised that all training and volunteering activities are accredited.  Informal learning is measured using a national framework supported by the government’s Centre for Youth Impact.  It was noted that the long term cost to society of young people who were NEET is significant, both in financial terms and other ways such as: worklessness, drug and alcohol misuse, crime and premature mortality.

·         What performance targets were used for the Youth Offending Service?  The Head of Partnerships advised that the Youth Justice Board receives data on first time entrants to the criminal justice system, custodial sentences and re-offending rate, but do not set targets for any of these measures, however, local targets are on track.  Local performance is better than national and regional averages for each of these measures.

·         What volunteering opportunities existed for the youth.  The Head of Partnerships advised that short, medium and long term volunteering opportunities were available and accredited using the V-Inspired framework.

·         It was noted that services provided by the Youth Support Team are accessed by members of the Traveller community and that there had been a recent significant increase in demand from the growing number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

RECOMMENDED

1.    That the Committee continue to receive an Annual Report for The Youth Support Service.

That a further report be submitted to the Committee that includes joint work with the Business and Regeneration directorate to provide information and advice and guidance to young people to inform their career choices and support them into employment, including those that transition into adulthood (i.e. those over 18).